Former RIAA Defendant Accuses the RIAA of Fraud and Racketeering

Tanya Andersen is biting back. Constant readers will remember Tanya from the story “The RIAA Wants To Interrogate Your 10 Year-Old”. Tanya is the 42 year-old mother who the RIAA accused of downloading “gangster rap” on kazaa. The case was dismissed, but now Tanya is fighting back with her own lawsuit. She’s suing the RIAA for direct and punitive damages.

In addition to suing the RIAA, Andersen is targeting Atlantic Recording, Priority Records, Capital Records, UMG Recordings and BMG Music. She is also naming Media Sentry and RIAA’s Settlement Support Center as defendants. Andersen’s lawyers are hitting the defendants with the full power of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and federal and state RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Act), something that is often used against mafia and street gang members.